Theme :
A challenging journey this week, as we begin our Advent journey, we too walk with Mary and Joseph. We notice the earth beneath our feet, the world around us – and ask how we might create space for others on the road.
Luke 2:1–7 “There was no room for them in the inn.”
The story
The sun rose quietly over the hills of Galilee, bathing the village of Nazareth in golden light. In the soft morning hush, two figures stepped out onto the dry, dusty road. Joseph, with his walking staff in hand, and Mary, heavy with child. Their journey to Bethlehem had begun.
It was not a short walk. From Nazareth to Bethlehem, the road stretched over 90 miles – through valleys and over hills, across dry plains and past olive groves. Each step kicked up the warm, powdery dust of the earth beneath them. Mary would have felt every stone, every rise in the path, her body swaying with the slow rhythm of walking. Joseph would have scanned the road ahead, searching for safe places to stop, water to drink, and shade from the heat.
As they travelled south, the land changed. They passed through fields dotted with wildflowers and thorn bushes. They saw fig trees and pomegranate branches, and listened to the call of birds in the early morning. Goats wandered along the rocky hillsides, watched over by shepherds with keen eyes. Sometimes, a donkey carried their load.
Sometimes, perhaps, Mary rested against its flank as it carried her weary frame for a while.
The nights were colder. The stars burned clear and bright in the sky above them, and Joseph likely built a fire as Mary lay close, wrapped in a shawl, her breath rising in the cool air.
All the while, the road pressed on – hard, long, and uncertain. Yet under their feet, the earth held them. Around them, creation whispered its welcome. The wind rustled the trees, the hills echoed their steps, and the soil bore the weight of their hope.
And when they finally reached Bethlehem, tired and aching, the earth had offered its strength – but the people had no space. No room. And so the child who would change everything was born not in a house, but in a stable – surrounded once again by the animals and the dust of the ground. God, entering the world not in comfort, but in closeness to the very earth itself.
Wonderings
- I wonder what kind of road Mary and Joseph walked on.
- I wonder how they felt when the ground was rough or steep.
- I wonder what you might have seen, smelled, or heard on that journey.
- I wonder how we might make space for people who are tired or far from home.
- I wonder what it means that Jesus was born close to the earth.
Activity
Resources needed:
- A4 card
- pencils,
- colouring pencils
Take a nature walk and pause to notice the world around you.
Collect small stones, leaves, twigs, flower-heads or simply
If you are unable to go on a nature walk have a collection of leaves, twigs, small stones, dried flowers,
Have the natural materials (leaves, twigs, stones) to hand.
Each person has a piece of A4 paper.
Listen to the story again (see below) and create a Table Map of the Journey.
Read the story again, pause at the end of each phrase and emphasis the words to help everyone draw out their own map of the journey.
The sun rose quietly over the hills of Galilee, bathing the village of Nazareth in golden light. In the soft morning hush, two figures stepped out onto the dry, dusty road – Joseph, with his walking staff in hand, and Mary, heavy with child. Their journey to Bethlehem had begun.
It was not a short walk. From Nazareth to Bethlehem, the road stretched over 90 miles – through valleys and over hills, across dry plains and past olive groves. Each step kicked up the warm, powdery dust of the earth beneath them. Mary would have felt every stone, every rise in the path, her body swaying with the slow rhythm of walking. Joseph would have scanned the road ahead, searching for safe places to stop, water to drink, and shade from the heat.
As they travelled south, the land changed. They passed through fields dotted with wildflowers and thorn bushes. They saw fig trees and pomegranate branches, and listened to the call of birds in the early morning. Goats wandered along the rocky hillsides, watched over by shepherds with keen eyes. Sometimes, a donkey carried their load. Sometimes, perhaps, Mary rested against its flank as it carried her weary frame for a while.
The nights were colder. The stars burned clear and bright in the sky above them, and Joseph likely built a fire as Mary lay close, wrapped in a shawl, her breath rising in the cool air.
All the while, the road pressed on – hard, long, and uncertain. Yet under their feet, the earth held them. Around them, creation whispered its welcome. The wind rustled the trees, the hills echoed their steps, and the soil bore the weight of their hope.
And when they finally reached Bethlehem, tired and aching, the earth had offered its strength – but the people had no space. No room. And so the child who would change everything was born not in a house, but in a stable – surrounded once again by the animals and the dust of the ground. God, entering the world not in comfort, but in closeness to the very earth itself.
Activity:
Either individually or as a group draw an imaginary map or route of the journey that Mary and Jospeh took.
From the desciptions in the story add detail to your map….
Then listen again the the story and use two small plastic figures to walk the journey.
Christmas Crib
Scan the QR code to see what to do this week:
Preparation for next week:
Invite everyone to bring a charity shop teacup and saucer to be used at the Creativitea event.
